Reuters

By Emma Farge and Clotaire Achi

LUCERNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Dozens of Ukrainian refugees from choirs around Switzerland converged in the city of Lucerne on Saturday near a global summit to sing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", a choral work they say embodies their hopes for peace and freedom.

The singers gathered in a public square in Lucerne close to the mountaintop resort of Buergenstock where dozens of world leaders were meeting to try... (continue reading...)

By Alexandra Hudson and Ayhan Uyanik

DACHAU, Germany (Reuters) - Fans from Scotland, Ukraine, Germany, Israel and other nations laid wreaths at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site on Saturday to commemorate victims of the Nazis, vowing "never again" and to use football as a force to unite people.

The group toured the camp and heard how the Nazis had persecuted Jewish footballers and coaches, forced prisoners to play soccer for... (continue reading...)

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie

JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) - Eight Israeli soldiers were killed in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, the military said, as forces continued to push in and around the southern city of Rafah and strikes hit several areas of Gaza, killing at least 19 Palestinians.

Earlier, the armed wing of Hamas said fighters had ambushed an armoured personnel carrier, killing and wounding a number of Israeli... (continue reading...)

BORGO EGNAZIA, Italy (Reuters) - European Union states won't be directly involved for now in a $50 billion loan that Group of Seven nations plan to raise for Ukraine based on income from frozen Russian assets, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday.

The Group of Seven rich democracies agreed during their annual summit in southern Italy to provide loans which will be backed by interest accrued from the blocked Russian funds.

By Crispian Balmer

BARI, Italy (Reuters) - Since taking office in 2022, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has proved a pragmatic partner on major international issues, assuaging fears she would be a dogmatic conservative unwilling to compromise.

But at the Group of Seven summit that she hosted in southern Italy this week, Meloni showed she had some red lines dear to her nationalist camp that she was ready to fight for, especially... (continue reading...)